Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire is a native of Akperhe-Olomu in Ughelli-South Area of Delta State. His father, late Pa Joseph Omafuaire Ikpemeku, married Mrs. Etawarien Omafuaire from the Ogbon Royal family of Ogoni.

Young Omafuaire attended Odje Primary School, Akperhe-Olomu, from 1980-1984 and Azagba Primary School, Otor-Owhe from 1984-1986 for his First School Leaving Certificate. He started his Secondary education at Olomu Secondary School, Otorere-Olomu, from 1987-1989. His quest and love for science made him to switch to Okpare Grammar School between 1989-1993 where he got his WAEC/SSCE with two distinctions and five credits.

Omafuaire was admitted to the University of Benin in 1994, having passed the JAMB examination. He graduated with Second-Class honours, B Sc, Business Administration.

He was posted to Government Secondary School Agila, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, for his one year mandatory National Youth Service. He served meritoriously and in the course of his service, he met and impressed Prof Moses Ochonu, formerly of University of Michigan. They became friends.

After service, as a graduate of Businness Administration, Omafuaire went into private business practice for some time. But his quest for the emancipation of the underprivileged saw him venturing into journalism. And, to become a professional, he attended the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja, where he bagged a Post-graduate Diploma.

A determined Omafuaire secured employment with Vanguard Newspapers, as a Senior Photojournalist, in Delta State.

His dexterity saw him becoming the first to combine news reporting with photography, earning him the position of South-South Photo Editor. Omafuaire, a disciplined and irrepressible vocal journalist, has covered the Niger Delta and Eastern region in key and delicate moments when the best hands are needed. He covered the militancy crisis, risking his life as he was shot by militants, and the military in several instances in the Southern Ijaw Council Area of Bayelsa and Warri South West Area of Delta State.

As a strong voice, Omafuaire became the financial secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondent Chapel. His strong, disciplined and principled nature earned him the name IYETE, the revered title of the Okumagba of Okere Warri Kingdom. Omafuaire rose to become secretary of the Union for six years before emerging the chairman in February 2017.

Omafuaire, a voracious reader, further in his quest to emancipate the Down-trodden, in 2014 started a career in law, as he was admitted to Delta State University, Abraka, Oleh Campus, and graduated in May 2018, with Second-Class upper division.

As a self-made man, Omafuaire has fought the course of his people, which endeared him to kings, great politicians and captains of industry, among others. He joined the race to emancipate the under-represented people of Ughelli and Udu Federal Constituency, seeing the maximum capacity of the occupier of the seat as not good enough, as the people need a vibrant, dogged and sagacious young intellectual to bring the pains of the people to the national front-burner.

Omafuaire having attained popularity with uncountable media reports, read and shared worldwide, seeks no further recognition with just contesting election, but driven by passion and pains of poor representation amid great suffering of his people.

As a tough voice and dogged advocate of good governance, Omafuaire is the round peg for the round hole.

•Akpobome is Media Officer, Omafuaire Campaign Organisation.

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